Rip Tides (and the lifeguard)

Just one of those summer days of being mom with 8 kids in all stages of school age and younger. Some were off to a job or a friends house. Another had plans to be picked up by a friend and their parent I didn't know well AFTER I would be gone already with the 4 I was taking with me. It had me more than a little on edge so I was praying in the spirit about it. Except that when I would stop long enough to hear what I was praying about, it kept coming back around to me and the 4. That was odd to me because I figured the ones with me were right there in my care...the others were not so I wanted extra protection on their behalf you know?


This was when we were not all armed with cell phones and all that instant communication potential.


We were on our way to THE BEACH and THE ZOO picnic lunch, double stroller, diaper bag, bathing suits, sunscreen, beach towels...you get the picture if you are a mom of even one child. Enter the storm. Not long lived, but enough to close the beach a while and send us to the zoo first and perhaps only the zoo.


Eventually though, it was deemed "safe" for opening the beach and we were delighted to head that direction next. Lydia and Martin were released to wade in the water about knee to waist deep only to the sand bar while I proceeded to sunblock Abe and Lily. Sunblock the back. Look up and out. Sunblock the little face. Look up and out, in the rhythm of a mom tending and watching her little flock. Look up and out...Martin was missing! The feeling of dread hits me as I type these words. "Where is he?" I mouth to Lydia, her beautiful blue eyes large and fringed with still dry blond hair because she was still only about waist deep. Young hands of a 10 year old half lifted in that expression matching her desperate words mouthed back "I don't know".


Praying, grabbing Abe and Lily, running  to the shore and looking with Lydia in the longest time warp of seconds...Some how I became aware of a situation down the beach with the life guards bringing in a boy...my 8 year old son...alive bless God!


Here is what I remember my son telling me. An undertow pulled him under and swept him down the beach (yes that shallow and near to shore).
"I knew I was drowning but I thought to lift my hand up"

When he lifted his hand it so "happened" he was right next to a life guards boat! He was pulled up and out to safety!

A couple of things I take from this now that it is a memory...


One is the whole thing of my kids are safe if they are with me.
Well surely they are most times but the Holy Spirit makes intercession and prays for those things we do not know. That day the Holy Spirit was interceding for me and my kids...the ones who were with me and would be needing His help even though they were with me.
American King James Version
But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jude 1:20


Another is this picture.
Sometimes circumstances or choices in life or the enemy of our life, sweep us under and far from our place...
If we will think to LIFT OUR HAND to the One Who inhabits the praises of His people, we will be lifted out by the One Who Guards Our Life...


Enjoy summer. Don't be afraid of the beach (but respect that water!). Pray in the spirit. Count your blessings...Know you are loved by the One who desperately wants lost sons and daughters recovered...and if you are a found one or a saved one join Him in rescuing the others.

Feast, Fast (or famine)

Something about scarcity can make a thing more valuable. Take gold for instance. We wear bits of it and it has value but in heaven we will walk on it since the streets are made of it. We don't treasure asphalt (unless it is missing from our streets) but never enough to pay to wear it.

The feasting we are fortunate enough to participate in for most people in our country, allows us to enjoy lots of our favorite things whether it is food or fun or ability to be working to earn the means to get those things.

I think that the idea of fasting something is that it has value to us but we want to show
that the thing we are intentionally fasting from is less valuable than what we are fasting for. Like to hear from God more clearly on a matter. And maybe the time I would be spending eating would be spent praying for others or meditating on God's words to me from His book.
But sometimes I fast from the wrong thing like fresh reading of His word. Don't get me wrong, remembering and thinking on his word is good and something to be doing, but really I don't like eating stale food when it comes to what I am putting in my mouth. I need to freshen it up even as much as I like to eat leftovers for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

 


Kind of like when we pray give us this day our daily bread...Jesus being the bread of life is what I need daily...remember He is the word of God so meeting with Him in His book and in prayer feeds me on a deeper level that affects all of me... 
And now that I think about it more, fixing a good meal to enjoy just takes some time and effort. I love reading but reading a novel, reading how to or informational books even books about the Bible all take little effort for me. There is something different about the Bible. It engages me on so many levels. It is not just a book. It is what God tells us it is...Words he was inspiring men to write...words that are a discerner of my heart (yikes!), a two edged sword, Spirit and LIFE, a mirror, bread, a light and lamp, a revealer of WHO GOD WAS, IS and WILL be, who WE are and more...yeah a lot going on when reading that book...it is more effort than a novel.

Then there is famine. I have not ever experienced famine. There are times I have had scarcity of some things and that was hard for me but true famine never. That happens in many places in the day we live in which is why relief efforts are established to participate in. When times were tight for us, I would remind God of His word that I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his children begging for bread. I knew I was not righteous on my own scale of good things but because I believe He gave His life to make me that way. Or I would remind Him of the time He multiplied the few loaves and fish from a little boys lunch for feeding thousands and surely I could trust Him to take what I had and make it enough for the 10 of us.

But the Bible tells us of times of famine. There were 400 years of no one hearing from God before Jesus was born...that is a famine of His word. Apparently "we don't know what we've got til it's gone" as the old song goes. And then in the FULLNESS of time God sent His Son Jesus, Immanuel (meaning God With Us). He showed up not just as a whisper in a prophets heart to be spoken aloud. But in that baby's cry, as the Word of God made flesh dwelling among us, born of a Virgin, in a stable in Bethlehem (which means house of bread. Interesting the bread of life would be born in the house of bread!)


Make time to hang out at His table this season. He loves you and wants to BE WITH YOU.

Rolling Eyeballs (and porcupines)

When did this happen to me? How did this activity sneak in? Lately I have caught myself rolling my eyes!!! And the worst thing is that it is at things my husband would suggest or ask! Wow! Have I been doing this all along but only now become aware of it?



I have noticed that since we began Walking It Out Marriage Counseling I seem to have escalated in undesirable behavior... but maybe it really is that I feel more accountable, more visible...just plain and simple more aware.

I realized the other day when I was behaving in an EGR manner (Extra Grace Required) that sometimes the pressure is on when a new endeavor begins. Add to that a number of disruptive crisis type circumstances with several that seem ongoing, coupled with fatigue quite possibly created by said circumstances and the tendency is to become a porcupine with rolling eyes type personality. All meant to keep people at a distance and hide myself though not consciously doing so. For instance I do not think a porcupine thinks about putting its quills out nor does a skunk think hard and long before letting loose with that marked Peppy Le Pew fragrance. It is automatic when perceived danger is on. In my case being asked to do one or several more things has the effect of danger I guess.

 
 
 
 
 
 



 
 



 
 
 
Now this is a cute little porcupine. But get a full grown one upset and beware! They can inflict quite a bit of damage!
So I don't have quills to speak of, but I do have a tongue and body language that can be damaging and even more long lasting. Yikes!

I am not excusing my behavior really, just being aware that it is happening and that it indicates change is needed. Not just catching my rolling eyeballs as they are making an escape, but changing a few things in life that I may be saying yes to that I should say no to. Not adding new things and more new things on top of all the already there things. Some of the already there things need to be let go of or rearranged. It's a song sung by many who are time management people. It is wisdom really.

Can I just point out to you who have had babies or been in on a delivery that when in the transition stage of childbirth, everything else is set aside to get that baby born!  Think about it.There is a plan to have the other kids watched, your place at work handled, meals brought in, a room prepared, extra people to assist which can all COST something mind you and still the process is intense even while it brings about a glorious result. So why would I not practice that with other things in my life that require quantities of my attention?

Just as practical and helpful is real communication about how something is affecting me. And then if my behavior calls for it, a very sincere apology. Not just shooting off a quick sorry for poking them with sharp "quill" like stuff either. Sincerity...Because humbling myself to the one who was recipient of my porcupine behavior, usually is stabbing my pride, which is not pleasant. But it bears that  fruit of repentance in my life and others around me which is pleasant.

If you see me running I am may be trying to catch run away eyeballs...you can help me...keep me accountable...catch them and hand them back...with no condemnation please...just a gentle smile will do. Hopefully this is a habit broken by this public confession of sorts...

Have a blessed weekend!